Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations

Alameda County HIV/AIDS Prevalence Rates Among African Americans Up From 1998

HIV prevalence rates among African Americans in Alameda County were "even more disproportionate" in 2002 than they were in 1998, when the county became the first municipality in the nation to declare a state of emergency on HIV/AIDS among African Americans, the Oakland Tribune reports. In 1998, African Americans made up approximately 18% of the county's population but accounted for 42% of its AIDS cases. In 2002, African Americans represented about 50% of the county's AIDS cases. In addition, African Americans currently account for 65% of the county's AIDS cases among women. Although advocates and county officials say that the area has made "significant accomplishments" in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the African-American community, they say that limited funding has restricted prevention efforts, in part because some funding is required to be used for treatment, the Tribune reports (Vesely, Oakland Tribune, 11/2).